In simple and straightforward language, Bhante Gunaratana shares what the Buddha said about mindfulness in his instructional talks and how we can use these principles to improve our daily lives, deepen our mindfulness, and move closer to our spiritual goals. While this book is based on a classic text, the Satipatthana Sutta, its presentation is thoroughly modern in Bhante’s trademark “Plain English” style.

Based around one of the Buddha's most succinct yet rich explanations of meditation, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English can be read as a stand-alone volume either before or after the bestselling Mindfulness in Plain English. Newcomers will find it lays strong groundwork for mindfulness practice and gives them all they need to get started right away, and old hands will find rich subtleties and insights that will help consolidate and clarify what they may have started to see for themselves.

How funny, I've had that book on my amazon account waiting to ship list for a month now and I just cancelled it off my list yesterday because I already have Analayo's book The Direct Path to Realization and The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika.

Any of you guys think I should still get Gunaratana's book to hear another interpretation or do you think it would be excessive?

"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."

polarbuddha101 wrote:How funny, I've had that book on my amazon account waiting to ship list for a month now and I just cancelled it off my list yesterday because I already have Analayo's book The Direct Path to Realization and The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika.

Any of you guys think I should still get Gunaratana's book to hear another interpretation or do you think it would be excessive?

It is likely worth reading, and it is always of value to hear differing takes on the same thing from experienced and good teachers.

Also, Joseph Goldstein, an excellent long time practitioner, well grounded in the suttas, has done an extensive series of talks on the Satipatthana Sutta from standpoint of actual practice. The talks can be found here.

---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

Thanks for the input Tilt. I actually found another thread you posted on with a link to Goldstein's lectures a few weeks ago and have been listening to them almost everyday since, so thanks for that as well

"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

polarbuddha101 wrote:Thanks for the input Tilt. I actually found another thread you posted on with a link to Goldstein's lectures a few weeks ago and have been listening to them almost everyday since, so thanks for that as well

Good on you and you are welcome.

>> Do you see a man wise[enlightened/ariya]in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723

I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

To study is to know the texts,
To practice is to know your defilements,
To attain the goal is to know and let go.

- Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo

With mindfulness immersed in the body
well established, restrained
with regard to the six media of contact,
always centered, the monk
can know Unbinding for himself.

bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

I have gone through his PHd thesis which was turned into a book and goes by a couple of names (although both escape me now). it is a fascinating read although not a practice manual like Mindfulness in plain English, but well worth the read also. I have a feeling Mindfulness in Plain English is a scaled down version in many respects.

Have a look in the Biblography for it!

and just realised this is off topic to the book being refered to
anyway, do with as you see fit :p

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

Thanks for that report. I just ordered a copy. I think I have all of his books now (or will have when this arrives) and yes, he is a great writer / teacher.

bodom wrote:I ordered and downloaded my ebook copy to my Nook today and I am so glad I did! What an amazing and excellent teacher Bhante G. is. This book is my new go to guide for anything meditation related. I cannot recommended it highly enough!

Thanks for that report. I just ordered a copy. I think I have all of his books now (or will have when this arrives) and yes, he is a great writer / teacher.

Glad to hear David you wont be dissapointed!

To study is to know the texts,
To practice is to know your defilements,
To attain the goal is to know and let go.

- Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo

With mindfulness immersed in the body
well established, restrained
with regard to the six media of contact,
always centered, the monk
can know Unbinding for himself.

Cittasanto wrote:I have gone through his PHd thesis which was turned into a book and goes by a couple of names (although both escape me now). it is a fascinating read although not a practice manual like Mindfulness in plain English, but well worth the read also. I have a feeling Mindfulness in Plain English is a scaled down version in many respects.

Have a look in the Biblography for it!

and just realised this is off topic to the book being refered to
anyway, do with as you see fit :p

I believe you are referring to his book on the jhanas The path to serenity and insight and yes it is a great work!

To study is to know the texts,
To practice is to know your defilements,
To attain the goal is to know and let go.

- Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo

With mindfulness immersed in the body
well established, restrained
with regard to the six media of contact,
always centered, the monk
can know Unbinding for himself.